Mastering the ‘F’ words

Flexibility, feedback and failure—words that have been traditionally frowned upon or feared in business. But, during a recent panel discussion at Canadian Grocer’s Star Women in Grocery Awards ceremony in Toronto, some of this year’s winners explained how these‘F’words (and vulnerability, too) can positively impact company culture, employee engagement and personal success. By Kristin Laird

“Early in my career I was running away from feedback. My best advice is to actively pursue feedback. It is a gift. It makes one feel so uncomfortable, but in that discomfort can come really great things.”

—Louisa Furtado, VP human resources Ontario and health & safety, Metro “Failure for the longest of times was perceived as a sign of weakness, which is not the case. When you fail, you learn and grow. I think it’s very important for each one of us to be humble and reflect and share those failures.”

—Stephanie Goyette, head of marketing & strategy, Taste Elevation, Kraft Heinz Canada

“It’s funny because people always talk about work-life balance, but for me it’s been about integration and being with a company that helps me do that. I’ve learned not to stretch myself too thin and to leave time for unplanned things. Flexibility has been key for me and exploring the options my company offers.”

—Shilpa Mukhi, VP, sales, P&G Canada “I am perfectly fine admitting I fail daily. The ‘F’ word is becoming a superpower and we have to embrace it. Nobody will ever put more pressure on me than me, so I get to choose how I accept my failure. If I can turn that around and make it a secret weapon, I’m going to own that all day long.”

—Bonnie Birollo, SVP retail operations, Sobeys

“People want to feel a sense of belonging and to feel understood. Be vulnerable, especially in a leadership position, to show them it’s not easy and create an environment where people feel heard and supported.”

—Jessica Armstrong, VP, eCommerce, Maple Leaf Foods

“Vulnerability is a key aspect of building a strong workplace culture. I didn’t have a traditional career, I was out of the workforce for about eight years and when I [started at] Loblaw it was very difficult to return to work as a woman. I think it’s important to share that story with my teams and with my male colleagues that are hiring—to have that vulnerability of just how tough it is for women or men who are balancing caregiving and family. A big key is showing you’re not perfect. You have days where you forget to pack your kid’s snack.”